Combination fixture-hanger and concealed switch-holder



W. R. WALLICK.

COMBINATION FIXTURE HANGER AND CONCEALED SWITCH HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. l8, i9l9.

Patented Dec 21,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

W. R. WALLICK.

COMBINATION FIXTURE HANGER AND CONCEALED SWITCH HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. I8, I919.

1,362,906. I Patented De0.21,1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

WWI & @F/MM 'M? Vw wot/M0440 UNITED STATES WALLACE R. WALLIGK, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

COMBINATION FIXTURE-HANGER AND CONCEALED SWITCH-HOLDER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 21, 1920.

Application filed August 18, 1919. Serial No. 318,263.

1 0 all coil 0% it may concern Be it known that I, iVALLAon R. VVALLIOK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and Eitate oi Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination Fixture-Hangers and Concealed Switch-Holders; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact descrip tion of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it apper tains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to supports, and it relates more specifically to a combination fixture hanger and concealed switch holder.

The main objectotf this invention is to provide a support of this character which is susceptible of many and various applications in hanging electric and gas light fixtures, and which greatly reduces the expense oi time and money in making such applications;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which performs a plurality of useful functions in each of its numerous application s;

irnothc'r object is to provide a device of this character which is applicable in connec tion with the standard lighting fixtures, that is, the fixtures which are most generally employed in the art of lighting with gas and electricity, and which are accepted and approved by the Board of Underwriters;

A further object is to provide a device of this character that is useful in connection with all. wiring outlets, including straight electric, knob and'tube, conduits and combination (electric and gas) Another object is to provide a device of this character which is self-adjusting in the respect that it readily depresses the contiguous unevenness in the plaster or other surface to which it is attached;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which is adapted to support and hide a chandelier pull-switch of standard make, and in which the pull-switch can be installed and electrically connected after the supporting device has been fastened to the ceiling or other surface, also permitting the pull switch to be removed without removing the supporting device;

Another object is to provide a supporting bracket \vhich'can be inclosod and hidden within a canopy of standard make, and

which permits all the wiring and other connections to be made conveniently and quickly;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which eliminates the use of an insulating joint, when used on lighting fixtures installed on combination outlets, thereby eliminating a considerable item of expense, and also eliminating the-time of fitting the insulating joint;

A further object is to provide a hanger of this character in which the pull-switch may be supported at an angle so as to allow the lower end of the switch to extend through the side wall of the chandelier, thereby leaving the lower end of the canopy tree to receive the connections of a single hanger element, and thereby locating the pull chain eccentrically with regard to the vertical center of the hanger element;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which eliminates the danger of short circuits, by providing sufficient room within the canopy for making the necessary electrical connections without crowding the terminals;

Another object is to provide a supporting device of this character that can be used with an electrolier switch concealed in the canopy or in a center-hung bowl, giving the same advantage as an outlet wire for an electrolier switch;

Another object is to provide a support of this character in connection with which the usually discarded short pieces of casing can be utilized to advantage, thereby effecting an additional saving;

Another object is to provide a device of this character which may be quickly, easily and economically manufactured by stamping it from a blank or blanks of sheet metal, and which is strong, durable, comparatively inexpensive and thoroughly practical and etlicient;

Other objects and advantages may become apparent to persons who read the following details of description in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved support in connection with the combination lighting fixtures which include a bowl, gas connections and a pull switch;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmental vertical sectional view through the support and contiguous fixtures;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the support detached from the other fixtures, and its two component elements being separated.

Fig. 4 is a View showing the lower element of the support principally in elevation, but slightly in section, the section being taken along the line 4et of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental sectional View, the section being taken along the line 5-5 of i Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the support and through the adjacent conduit box and fixtures; and

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 except that it is employed with fixtures and in environments differing from those of Fig. 6.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters correspond with similar parts throughout the several views, the supporting device which constitutes the subject matter of this invention is fully disclosed in Figs. 3 and 7, and the other fixtures are illustrated merely for the purpose of showing the various applications and advantages of this invention. Referring especially to Fig. 3 .it will be seen that this support consists of two members, 8 and 9 respectively. The member 8 is pref erably formed from a blank of sheet metal. and is channel shaped or substantially U- shaped in cross section and substantially U- shaped in contour, although it might be more accurately described as being in the shape of a written (not printed) V. In other words, the part 8, which I choose to term a bipod is formed with a curved bight portion 10, upwardly diverging intermediate portions 11, and normally horizontal upper end projections or portions 12 which lie substantially in a common horizontal plane. The end projections or portions 12 constitute feet or seats which rest against the ceiling or other surface and are secured thereto by means of screws or the ike which extend through apertures 13 and 4, as will be more clearly described hereinafter. The flanges 15 which extend from end to end of the bipod, and the flanges 16 which cross its ends are united at the corners of the feet or seats 12 and combine to form housings in which the member 9 may be seated. It is to be understood, however, that the member 9 is an auxiliary element of the support which is used only in connection with certain lighting fixtures and is eliminated when the bipod 8 is used in certain other relations. The member 9 is channel shaped so .as to make it comparatively rigid and light, and so that it may be economically manufactured from a blank of sheet metal, and is provided with apertures 17 which are preferably screw threaded and register with the respective apertures 14 of the bipod. Themember is also apertured at 18 and thereby adapted to be connected with other fixtures as disclosed in Figs. 1, 2 and 6.

Referring now to F igs. 1 and 2, it will be seen that a fixture hickey 19 is supported by a pipe or conduit 20, and supports the member 9 and also supports the pull-switch 21. The bipod is supported by screws 22 which extend through the alined apertures 14 and 17 of the elements 8 and 9. The bipod 8 is apertured and screw threaded at 23 and engages with a pipe or conduit 24 so as to support the latter and thereby support the bowl, at the same time providing an outlet for the pull-chain 25 of the switch or article being supported. Moreover, the bipod 8 is provided with apertures 27 through which extend the inner ends of pipes or conduits 28 which may be either gas conduits or electric wiring conduits. It will be seen, therefore, that, in Fig. 2, the bipod 8 sup ports the conduits 2S and 24 and also cooperates with the pull-switch 2.1. and its up wardly extending connections for providing a structure of maximum rigidity, the flanges 15 engaging with the outer surface of the pull-switch 21 and embracing the contiguous convexed surfaces between these flanges; that is, the supported article has its element 21 secured against horizontal displacement by its engagement with the inwardly pro jecting parts of the channels between the flanges 11. Moreover, the support, taken as a whole, including the elements 8 and 9, performs the triplex function of supporting the conduits 24 and 28 and switch 2]., while cooperating with the bowl for concealing the switch 21 from view.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5, it will be seen that my improved bipod S is employed independently of the bridge or auxiliary supporting element 9, and that the apertures 13 receive insulating bushings 29 through which extend screws 30 which engage with apertured'ears 31 on opposite vertical walls of a conduit box 32. It will also be seen that the bracket or bipod 8 in Fig. at affords a single-light supporting ele ment 30 which has screw threaded engagement with the bipod at 23. A casing 31 surrounds the shank of the element 30 and is provided with a collar 32 which is movable up and down on the casing 31 and may be secured by a set screw 33 or by other appro priate means; and this collar normally holds acanopy 34 of ordinary construction. The canopy is apertured eccentrically to receive the lower tubular extension 35 of the pull. switch 21, the body of the switch 21 being supported by studs 36 which extend ourward from the pull switch and through the apertures 27 of the bipod.

Referring to Fig. 6, it will be seen that both elements 8 and 9 of the supporting de vice are employed in connection with a conduit box in which an insulating joint 37 depends from the top of the conduit box 32 and supports a depending pipe or conduit 38 which extends through the central aperture 18 of the bar or bridge 9 and is pressed upward by means of a lock nut 39. In thus pressing the element 8 upward, as shown in Fig. 1, and in pressing this element 9 upward as shown in Fig. 6, the flanges 15 and 1(3 become somewhat embedded in the plaster or other surface so as to bear firmly and evenly against these surfaces even though such surfaces were uneven. Returning to the explanation of Fig. 6, it will be seen that the bipoll 8 may be secured to the bar 9 after the latter has been secured to the ceiling (through the medium or the elements 32, 37, 38, and 89), and now the canopy may be secured in place by means of a knob 40' such as illustrated in this figure, or by a bell or tassel such as illustrated in Fig. 2. In either case, the l-znob and bell are vertically bored for allowing the electric conductors to extend therethro'ugh or for allowing a pull chain to extend therethrough. In this connection, the canopy 34 is provided with the usual hooks for connecting chains and the like from which the bowl and lighting devices may be suspended.

Referring to Fig. 7, it is contemplated to employ an auxiliary supporting element 41 which may consist of an arm having a threaded stud 4-2 at one end and being apertured at its other end so as to receive an upward tubular extension 43 and thereby cor'iperate with a nut 44 on the extension 43 for supporting the pull-switch 21. In this connection, it will be seen that the pullchain 25 extends through the knob 40 from the lower end of the switch 21.

In view of the foregoing description of my improved support in its various conncctions with lighting fixtures, it will be seen that I have provided a very useful supporting device which is fully capable of accomplishing the objects set forth in the fore going, and which may be useful in relations other than those which have been specified.

Although I have claimed this embodiment of my invention very specifically, it is not intended to limit this invention to these exact details of construction and arrangement of parts, but I am entitled to make changes within the scope of the inventive idea disclosed in the foregoing description and following claims.

What I claim as my invention is 1. In a support, an integral member of substantially U-shaped contour and having flanges on opposite edges of its ends, said ends extending laterally outward from the median line of the member and having their flanges turned upward, said ends being pr vided with apertures, whereby securing and tightening means may extend through said apertures and press said flanges into the surface of an extraneous support substantially as specified.

2. 'In a support, a member including upwardly diverging portions formed with inwardly projecting flanges to provide inwardl facin channels said u wardl di- 8: 7 y

verging members also including horizontally and oppositely extending upper end projections having extensions of said flanges projecting upward from their outer ends and edges to form housings, and a bar having its ends fitted in said housings and secured to said oppositely extending projections, said bar being provided with means to co-act with said inwardly facing channels for bolding an article in said channels substantially in the manner specified.

3. In a support, an integral member of substantially U-shaped contour and having flanges on opposite edges of its ends, said ends extending laterally outward from the median line of the member and having their flanges turned upward, said ends being provided with apertures, and a bar having a central aperture and end apertures, the latter registering with those of the ends of the U-shaped member, and means extending through the apertured ends of said bar and U-shaped member for removably securing tl e latter to the bar, the central aperture of said bar being engageable with an extraneous means for supporting the bar.

l. In an electric lighting fixture, a mem-- ber of substantially U-shaped contour and having its branches diverging from its bight portion and having the opposite edges of each branch turned inward toward those of the other branch, means supporting the U- shaped member with its bight portion depending, said bight portion having a pipe connection, a pipe engaged with and extending down from said pipe connection, a bowl having a centrally apertured bottom through which said pipe extends, means cooperative with said pipe for securing the bowl to the U-shaped member, a pull-switch removably engaged between the flanged and upwardly diverging branches of the U- shaped member and having its pull-chain extending down through said pipe and bowl, and combined wire-conduits and lamp supports carried by said U-shaped member.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WALLACE R. WALLI OK. 

